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Sunday, July 31, 2011

Two weeks ago we started our potato project. The results are what I feared and expected, if that makes any sense. The sweet potato on the right sprouted roots about a week into our project and then a couple days later started to sprout. The potato on the left started to grow mold.

I guess the jig is up. The potato on the right is the organic one.

It took longer for it to sprout than I expected but at least something happened.

The mold isn't super clear in this picture but if you look at the toothpick in front and then down to about the 4:00 position that little spot is mold.

We are wondering why all our conventional potatoes (the russet and red variety) seem to have no trouble sprouting in our cupboard. Do they not apply the same chemical to those varieties? I am definitely switching to all organic tubers.

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Today I went to Denver to run a work errand with my husband and he surprised me by agreeing to go to Ikea when he was done. Originally I went to have about two hours of uninterrupted crocheting time while I worked on a new pattern, but when he said we were going there I felt like I had won the lottery.

The traffic and parking were pretty nuts which I guess is to be expected the first full weekend they were open. But we found parking pretty quickly and made our way to the store. The place was jam packed but not to the point to the point of claustrophobia. I was even able to run into a best friend.

Seeing as my husband is a carpenter, he isn't impressed with the furniture but even he admitted that the accessories were nice and even some of the furniture had improved since our last trip to an Ikea (10 years ago in New Jersey).

Friday, July 29, 2011

I rode my bike down to pay my water bill and was met with this pleasant surprise.

A new quilt shop in my little ole town! They must of thought I was a crazy person taking pictures through the window...

I found their web site and it looks like they will be carrying fabric that is more in line with my mother's sensibilities. It is great to see new business come to our shrinking town and the space they picked is great. Even though I prefer more modern/bold/non-tiny-flower-like prints it is wonderful to have a local place I can walk to in a couple minutes.

I wonder if it is too much to hope that one day they carry yarn too!!! They could easily get rid of that shelf of Yankee Candles and put up some shelves full of yarny goodness.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

If you walked into my house right now you might think I was canning some tomato sauce because it smells great in here. The truth is much messier. While getting out a box of mac and cheese to make for lunch my blood pressure must have dropped and my eye sight blacked out when I had my hand raised above my head reaching for the box. While I was waiting the 5 seconds for my vision to come back, I managed to drop a glass of spagetti sauce on the floor and it shattered.

Am I the only one that sees a big mess and immediately thinks to grab my camera? Such a waste of organic tomato sauce that the dog can't even help me clean up because of the glass!

Luckily the whole jar didn't shatter but enough of it did to be a pain in the dupa. This must have been magic traveling glass because it ended up in three different rooms.

Some how the jar also managed to shatter on the way down because it cut my leg on the glass before I even started to clean this disaster up.

Monday, July 25, 2011

In one week I will be flying with the kids to NY by myself! I did this same trip last year but my daughter was less mobile and smaller; should be an interesting time. I am looking for an easy project to work on while I am out there and need your help deciding.

The first two are blankets that I was thinking I could make large enough for a twin or full sized bed for my daughter and the last two could be photo props for upcoming newborn shoots.

Here is my end result. I know it is hard to see in this picture but it had the desired effect of a textured blanket.

I was attempting to make it one square yard but got to a half-yard and was about to commit myself to the loony bin so I called it quits. With the strips only going half way up the material, I folded the material over it and sewed it up like a pillow. It is about the size of a nice bath mat.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Here is a picture from the weekend newborn shoot I did. This is using a larger sized cocoon (two more rounds of increases) and the mom was holding the cocoon from the top. If you want to see more of my photos you can check them out here.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Have you seen the video going around that shows a little girl talking about how she couldn't get a conventionally grown potato to grow and even the organic one was kinda puny? It isn't until she picks one up at a certified organic market that they get a lush potato plant.

This seems like a simple project for my 3.5 year old and we started it today. I haven't been to a farmers market recently but I did manage to pick up an organic sweet potato and a conventional one at our local grocery store.

I am not going to tell you which one is the organic potato, but I won't stop you from guessing. They sat in my car for an embarrassing long time so hopefully that didn't ruin them.

Here is the original video. Clearly she has been coached but regardless of the message's delivery I am excited to see if we get the same results.

I am going to try and post a picture once a week to track our potato growing progress. Has anyone else tried to recreate the video?

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

I think it is safe to say that I prefer patternless sewing. I made this dress/skirt this afternoon just using a couple measurements, and you can too! The best part about the outfit is that it can be a dress or a skirt and with the ties you can change the look pretty quickly to suit your mood.

Sorry for the less than stellar pictures - I am all packed and ready to go shoot my next birth and don't want to mess with my camera bag until that baby gets here! These were all taken with my iPhone.

Step 1: Measure your waist and times by 1.5. So if your waist is 32" your measurement with be 48". That is the width of your dress/skirt.

Step 2: Determine how long you want your dress and that with be the length.

Step 3: Using a gathering stitch on the top edge of your dress. Pull your gather to the width of your waist (32"). This was so easy using the spandex/knit I got on clearance at Joann Fabrics. Then using a zig-zag stitch go over your gather so they don't move.

Step 4: Sew up your side seam using a zig-zag stitch

Step 5: Cut out a piece of fabric that is the width of your waist (32") and how ever long you want the top section to be. The longer you make it the more if can fold but can also get bunchy. I made mine about 12 inches.

Step 6: Attach the wrong side of the skirt section to the right side of the top section using a zig-zag stitch. I know that seems a little wonky, but when you put it on the top part will then fold over.

Step 7: I then cut a piece of material that I could easily wrap around myself two time and have length to tie.

Step 8: Sew the strip of material to the middle of your top section.

Step 9: If you used a knit like I did then you are done - no seams to finish!!

Now go stand in front of a mirror and practice all the ways you can tie it.

I love the way the tie adds some support when you are wearing it as a dress. It feels really secure.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Sorry for the lack of posts. I am a doula and photographer and have been either waiting for a birth, attending a birth or editing some beautiful birth pictures. I would love to share the photos but that is a big ole no-no until mom and dad give me the go ahead.

But I am back, with a new obsession. I was cruising around Pintrest (my newest addiction) and found something called Gocco. Picture this little toy looking machine that allows you to make your own screen prints easily! I have wanted to get into screen printing but just haven't had the time to make or buy a screen. I want this.

The problem I am having is actually finding a machine for sale. A Google shopping search shows that they run anywhere from $150 to over $700. That makes me nervous. Definitely have to do some more research on how to buy one.

The process looks easy enough. Draw your image using a carbon pencil, burn it onto screen using the poison lighbulb and then add ink and press. If anyone has used one of these machines or knows a reputable place to buy one I would love to hear from you!